Swivel



Feb; 12, 1929.

INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEY w. v. SEIFERT 5W1 IEL Filed 17. 1926 I Patented Feb. 12, 1929 UNITED s'rras PTENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM V. SEIFIEBT, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

swivnn.

Application'filed May 17,

tary stem of the drilling tool, which. permits oi its rotary motion with little friction and wear. A body of liquid provided for the abovestated purpose, consists preferably of a viscous lubricant enclosed in afiuid tight chamber, by means of suitable packing de vices.

A further object of the invention resides in the construction of the means by which the above mentioned chamber is formed, the means for supporting the drill stem on the liquid in the chamber, and the means "For packing the chamber against the escape of fluid, and these and other objects relating to details of construction and a novel arrangement of parts are fully set forth in the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 7

In these drawings in which. like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of the swivel in operative relation to a vertically extending, rotary drill-stein;

Figure 2 a section in the horizontal plane indicated by the line 2 2 inhigure 1; and

Figure 3 a sectional view of one of the packing rings used in the construction, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, 5 represents a hollow drill stem of the type used in well-boring equipment, and 6 a cylindrical container provided with headed trunnions 7 for the application of a bail 8 by which the swivel is suspended trom the usual block on the welldrillingstructure.

The drill stem has in integral connection therewith, a hollow piston 9 slidably fitted in the container, the interior space of the piston being connect-ed with the axial bore oi. the stem by openings 10.

The cylinder 6 is composed of a body member 12 and a head-member 13 fastened together by a screw-thread as at 14:.

The body-member has an integral bottom provided with a central sleeve 15 for the passage of the drill stem. The sleeve is recessed at its lower end for theapplication of a ball bearing 16, the balls of which are sup ported in a race provided by a flanged ring 17 screwed upon the extremity of the sleeve. Another similar sleeve 18 is formed on the 1926. Serial No. 109,625.

head of the cylinder and is internally thread ed for the attachment oi a tubular extension 19 which at its upper end connects with a conduit 20 through which, in practise, water is supplied to the drill stem, to be conveyed to the tool at the lower end thereof.

The drill-tool is rotatably fitted in the sleeve 15 and the extension of the sleeve 18 and fluid tight joints around the moving stem within the relatively stationaryparts,

'is maintained by means of packing rings 21 ot a peculiar construction hereinafter to be described.

Similar rings 22 are placed around the piston to provide a fluid-tight oint with the wall of the cylinder. The space 23 ofthe cylindrical container below the piston is filled with a een'iidiquid,lubricant as indicated in Figure 1 ot the drawings and the space 2% above the piston is occupied by a floating anti-"friction stea dying appliance which aids in holding the stem and the cylinder in coaxial relation to each other. The steadyiug device, best shown in Figure 2, consists of a plurality of wheels or rollers 25 engaging the concentric walls of the stem and the cylinder within the space 2%, and mounted for rotation between two rings. 26.

The packing rings used in providing the fluid-tight joints which prevent the lubricant from leaking from the chamber 23 or passing beyond the piston, and which at the upper end of the drill stem prevent water supplied through the conduit to the drill stennfrom entering the cylinder, are composed of a plurality of metal rings 27 set in grooves of the moving parts, rings 28 of feltrcoveringlthe faces of the rings 27 within the grooves, and layers 28 and 29 otbeeswax and paratfin between the rings of felt. Pins 30 extending into grooves oi the metal rings, prevent rotation of the rings. The pressure to which the packing devices are subject, causes the beeswax. and paraffin to constantly'engage with the stationary parts of the swivel thereby glazing the same and filling every crack, indentation orother irregularity of the surfaces thereof. It will thus be readily apparent that both the lubricant-space and the water space of the swivel aresealed against leakage under pressure'and that the appliance reouires little attention in use to constantly maintain it in an operative condition. i

i The body. of lubricant provides a firm, and to some degree elastic, bearing for the drill stem, permitting of its rotary motion with the minimum of friction. The steadying device relieves the swivel from strain byrelative lateral displacement of the drill stem, and the entire construction is easilyassembled and applied, to take the place of any swivel. used heretofore for the rotary support or drill stems in, well-drilling equipment. The water admittedto the interior of the .piston cools the'lubricant' upon which the piston is supported and 'thus aids in retaining its viscosity.

v It is to be'understood that while the swivel as shown in the drawings and herein described 7 v is particularly adapted: for use in connection peller shafts.

with drill stems of well-drilling tools, it may be employed in different associations as, for example, as an end-thrust bearlng forpro- Having thus described my invention what Tclaim' and desire to'secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination witha hollow rotary element, of a swivel comprising a movably suspended chamber, a fluid body in the chamher, and means for the rotary support of the element upon said fluid body. 1

2. The combination with a hollow rotary "element, of a swivel comprising a movably the element upon said bo,dy.'

body in the container, and a piston rotatable with the element and slid-ably fitted withln the container and supporting the. fluid body. I

5. A swivel" comprising in combination the element upon .with a rotary element, a container coaxial therewith, a fluid body in the container,

- means on the element for its rotary support uponsaid fluid body, and a steadying device adapted to maintain theaxial coincidence of the container and the element. 7 p

' 6. A swivel comprlslng in comblnatlon 'with' a rotary element,a container coaxial therewith, afluid body in the container, means a on the element for its rotary support upon said fluid body, and asteadying device including a plurality of rotary members engaging. "the container and the element 1n a space between the same; 7

. 7. A swivel comprising .in combination with a rotary element, a: container coaxial I f therewith,a fluid body in the container,means on the element for its rotary support upon said fluid body, and a steadying device including a'plural ty of rotary members engaging 1,7o1,see

the container and the element in a space between the same, and a floating bearing for said members.

8. In well drilling apparatus, the-combinationwith a hollow drill stem, of a swivel having a chamber, a fluid bodyin the chamher, a piston supporting the drill stem on the fluidxbody, a conduit connected with the swivel to supply a liquid to the stem, pack mg means confiningthe fluid body to the chamber, and packing means between the chamber and the 'connection'of the swivel with the conduit. i

9. In well drilling apparatus, the combination with a'hollow drillgstem, of a swivel 1 having a chamber, a fluid body in the chamber, a piston on'the stem having aspace in the interior thereof that is an enlargement of the hollow POTlJlOIlOIE the dIlll' stem, supporting the stem upon thefluid body, the hollow portions of the stem and piston being connected, and a conduit connected with the swivel for the supply of aliquid to the hollow stem and the hollow piston.

10. A swivel for drilling tools comprising I in combination with a hollow drill stem, a container havinga chamber and sleeves above and below tl1e same, the drill stem passing through the'lower sleeve and endlng 1n the upper sleeve, a fluidbody in the chamber, a piston supporting the stem on the fluid body, and a conduit connected with the upper sleeve to supply a liquid to the hollow stem.

11; The combination with'a rotary element, 01 a swivel comprisinga movably suspended chamber to move in a vertical line, trunnions on the chamber for its movable suspens1on, a fluid body in'the chamber, and means for the rotary'support of the element upon said fluid body.

12. A swivel comprising a container hav-. mg a tubular extenslon, a1flu1d body in the container, a hollowrotary dr ll stem termlpended chamber, a fluid body in'the chamber, and means supporting" the stem on the;

fluid bodyr x 14. The combination of a hollow rotary 'nating in said extension, :means on the drill; stem for its rotary support on said fluid body, 1 and means for feedinga liquid tothe extension. a I

' 13. The combination with a rotary drill stem, of a swivel comprisinga movably susdrill-stem, and a swivel comprisinga cham her, a fluid body inthe chamber, means supporting the drill stem on the fluid body, an

extension for the chamber, and a conduit connecting a liquid supply with the interior of the extension, the drill stem having a'-,I 1ip le inthe extension connecting the "interior .of same with the hollow drillstem.

In testimony whereof I. fixedmy signature. i

have hereunto 'af-- WILLIAM sErr -T; 

